Monsoon skincare must-haves: Some TLC for your skin

Monsoon skincare is necessary as the moisture in the air can lead to clogged pores, dull skin and even fungal infections in some cases. That's why, one of the most important steps in your skincare routine should be double cleansing – a gentle oil cleanser followed by a soap-free face wash. This helps remove waterproof makeup for monsoon and excess sebum without stripping your skin.

Must-have cleansers for rainy season:

• Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (Soap-free face wash)
• Simple Micellar Cleansing Water – Great for double cleansing in monsoon

Exfoliating once or twice a week is crucial for preventing clogged pores and dull skin. During the monsoon season, when humidity can exacerbate skin issues, incorporating chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid cleansers can be particularly beneficial for treating and preventing acne breakouts.

Top exfoliators to try for monsoon:

• The Derma Co. 2% Salicylic Acid Cleanser
• Neutrogena Deep Clean Gentle Scrub

To prepare your skin for moisturizing and ensure its natural pH is maintained, opt for an alcohol-free toner especially for the rainy season. Alcohol can be drying and irritating, stripping the skin of its natural oils and disrupting its delicate balance. An alcohol-free toner will help to remove any remaining impurities, refresh the skin, and prepare it to better absorb the subsequent moisturizing products.

Top toners for rainy season:

• Plum Green Tea Toner (Alcohol-free toner)
• Klairs Supple Preparation Toner

Selecting serums rich in antioxidants is highly beneficial for skin health. Specifically, during the monsoon season, a Vitamin C serum can be particularly effective in combating dullness and enhancing skin radiance. Concurrently, a hyaluronic acid serum is excellent for providing intense hydration, which is crucial for maintaining supple skin in humid conditions.

Top serums for the monsoon season:

• Minimalist Vitamin C 10% Serum
• L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Hyaluronic Acid Serum

The monsoon atmosphere may make your skin feel greasy but that's no reason to skin the moisturiser. Instead, opt for lightweight moisturizers for monsoon like gel-based moisturizer or oil-free moisturiser to avoid greasy skin while still keeping it moisturised.

Top light-weight moisturisers:

• Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel (Gel-based moisturiser)
• Pond's Super Light Gel Moisturiser

It's important to remember that ultraviolet rays can still reach your skin and cause damage even on overcast days. To protect your skin and avoid clogged pores, opt for a non-comedogenic sunscreen, which is specifically formulated not to block pores or cause acne breakouts.

Top sunscreens for rainy season:

• La Shield SPF 40 Sunscreen Gel
• Re'equil Ultra Matte Dry Touch Sunscreen

Do:

• Use non-comedogenic makeup to avoid breakouts.
• Incorporate clay mask for oily skin once a week.
• Keep your skincare for kids in the monsoon simple and gentle with soap-free face wash and lightweight moisturiser.
• Try DIY face masks for monsoon skin using ingredients like turmeric, honey, and yogurt.
• Try natural remedies for skin rashes and acne like neem paste, multani mitti and rose water and aloe vera gel.

Don't:

• Skip sunscreen just because it's cloudy.
• Over-exfoliate - this can disrupt your skin pH balance.
• Use heavy creams that clog pores in humid weather.
• Let there be sebum build, use blotting paper to manage oily skin.
• Skip antioxidant-rich skincare if you want bright skin during the rainy season.